Editing BW XXIII - Morwath

Morwath’s vision BWXXIII

Malenwe woke after a fitful night.  She was listening to a strange, far off sound; it was neither her folk stirring in the early morning mist, nor the unwelcome sounds of an enemy scout approaching.  She rose slowly from her bed of tough grass which was the mark of these lands and which provided little sustenance for grazing animals.  Man had struggled to farm these lands though they had defended them until the end in days gone by – before they were turned to ill.  She brushed the wrinkles from here travelling clothes.  They had marched for five days before resting in the relative shelter of the down land in South Levolyan.  Strangely their advance had been unimpeded, but something troubled Malenwe.

She walked to the top of a nearby ridge muttering words of comfort and occasionally reaching out to some of her warriors who were preparing for their next advance.  At the ridge top Malenwe scanned the horizon but saw nothing untoward.  The plains rolled on in every direction and low land was filled with mist creating the occasional bowl from which the Gods or Giants could drink or wash.  There it was again, a sound like some discordant music with a slow, deep rhythm.  She began to recognise it.

“Alarm!” she shouted, running back down into the depression.  

“Eleron! Morlund!  We have company!  Get the men up we need to go now!”  

The reaction of those around her was swift and soon they were in a loosely bound running order preferred by her folk.  The sun had not yet risen but its pale luminescence provided natural light that bathed the land and contrasted with the earthly hues of the Levolyan.  They marked its position and turned away from it before heading off at pace.  Malenwe did not want an early encounter with the enemy.  She needed to find her father.

Malenwe’s mind turned again to the dilemma: how to convince her father to fight.  She knew that they would, most likely, be destroyed but was that not better than to be enslaved – even if the bonds were silk?  She knew her men felt the same as she had taken counsel from all of them over the last few nights.  If only she could find more forces – perhaps the rumours of a hidden race of dwarves might be true, perhaps the old bonds with Men might prove strong enough to resist the temptations offered by Malor.

Suddenly, she noticed one of her scouts running toward the main party, which quickly halted and spread out, seeking refuge from the unpleasant drizzle and the enemy’s prying eyes.  The scout cam up to Malenwe and bowed; Malenwe knelt down and the scout joined her.  

“My Lady, the enemy seem to know of our presence and they seek to cut us off from the northeast.  Their numbers are too great to resist and they move with incredible haste.  I’m sorry but I think that we have failed.”

“Thank you for your report Gilderin, I will think on it for a moment; please return to your post and warn me when they are a league away.”  The scout bowed and left his Lady deep in contemplation.   She turned her face to the sky.  With a tear rolling gently down her beautiful cheek she smiled resolutely, “If this is my destiny, then so be it,” she whispered, “I had hoped for more…”  As she watched the clouds move slowly east, reluctantly releasing their cargo, they parted allowing a pale golden light to burst through the gloom.  She stared as the clouds broke up and the rain cleared to reveal a woman dressed in ancient garb of men, armoured in gold, carrying a silver spear and a brilliant shield decorated with all manner of gem stones.  On her shoulder perched an owl who regarded the elf with a passive curiosity.  She floated gently to the ground and seemed to shrink as she approached so that she was not much taller than the elf.

“Malenwe, the Gods have heard your prayer, revealed to us in your most desperate circumstance.  You have the wisdom to avoid battle but the courage to take up arms when pressed and we love you for that.  Know that the Norse have forsaken this Prime and it is time for you to turn again to older paths.  I hope you chose wisely for my Lady is the most deserved of your attentions.”

Malenwe stared, barely able to believe what was in front of her.  “Are you real or am I dreaming again?”